I'm so lost... and now I'm scared.. :(

I'm having my surgery done with Dr. Ganta in Austin.. he's awesome.. Absolutely love him.. but I had a short visit with the nutrionist and we email so she's there for me bless her heart... but I'm sitting here at home wondering.. "WHERE DO I START"?

I need to get protein or drink protein shakes... what kind? Do I get special k protein shakes I see advertised, or do I get a certain kind? What is the best kind out there that is the easiest to get down without wanting to hurl or feel like you drank sand out of a sandbox at the park..

I'm 130lbs overweight was diagnosed with Diabetes March 6th when I blacked out on the ER Lobby floor.. scared the hell out of me and I decided that is IT I'm 50 years old I refuse to die!

But I'm feeling overwhelmed and I'm feeling lost. I don't have insurance so I paid cash for the surgery so it's a really hard determination to succeed cause it's my hard earned money at a time where money doesn't come easy for some folks now a days. But again, I feel lost..I have sat here at this computer since I got home at 5 for the past 5.5 hours crying looking at eas and jay robb egg whites oh and isopure but what ones do you get?

I don't cook, so I don't know a carb from a fat from a protein to a whatever.. did I mention I feel lost? I've sat and cried and cried cause I feel like I've hit a wall and I can't figure out how to go around it and I'm not strong enough to go through it....

Any suggestions??

I've looked at the B & A photos and kudos to all of you who have had success I truly hope I'm going to be one with you :)

Starr

Your doctor or nutritionist should give you info on what to eat.  There is also info on this sight on the right "About The Lap Band System."  I also self paid and did not want to spend a lot of money on nutrition drinks.  Go to a Trader Joe's or a health food store near you and buy a couple of different ones.  Try them out and see what you like best.  I preferred the drinks in the can.  Too much trouble for me to mix the powder.  You are overwhelming yourself with too much info.  The first couple of weeks you will be mainly on liquids.  Buy some ready made liquid soups.  The ones in the carton are great.  Later the cream soups are good too.  SF Jello, yogurt and SF puddings. It really is easy if you don't over think it.   It takes awhile to get up to required protein.  You will do fine if you just take it one day at a time.  Nothing is perfect, just do the best that you can.   There is a  lot of support on this forum.  Good luck.

These forums kept me going for years until I had enough courage to even consider surgey as a real option for me so that fact that you are here is great. I personally couldn't find any protein drinks I like but I never needed them. Short of a few weeks post op where I couldn't get in every recommended protein (I had a great nutritionist who put this in perspective - 'Believe me, you won't be nutritionally deficient because you ate 45g of protien instead of 60g for 3 weeks.'

If you want to send me a private message we can chat sometime. I am currently getting back on track after (my stroy in a nutshell) Researching for years, taking the plunge (1st ever surgery at 325 pounds), losing weight, gallstone (2nd surgery), losing more weight, hitting my  lowest adult weght (240), being way too complacent and loving me some desserts and subsequently gaining back 40 pounds, and now working my ass off to lose it again.

This is a long journey that we have all chosen to embark upon. I find it is almost like a personal side quest that only other bandsters (and some other WLSers) can understand. Sometimes this board has been the only place I can turn to when I am lost in my own tears and frustrations. There are some great people here so get t learn 'em, send emails, and the only stupid question is the unasked one. 

I like Atkins low carb protein shakes.  I drink them in several ways,  one half coffee/half milk chocolate shake and then heat up a little more, 2  I drink them over ice sometimes, 3.  I make a shake with a glass of ice and the carton of Atlkins in the blender.  They are my main stay. 

I also like Solgar in chocolate too which doesn't have artificial sweeteners. They cause me problems.  Of course it has a few more calories, but not a significant amount..  It is a dry mix that I combine with skim milk and ice and sip on it.

 I didn't like any of those recommended by my nutritionist and you need to be able to tolerate it.  I thought the Unjury was horrible and made my own chicken broth for a warm drink, but canned broths works for liquid. 

I like Kroger Carb Master yogurt, low carb, high protein...good alone or over chopped fruit when you can have it.  Like some others people said, some of it doesn't matter, just drink at this stage and start reading the labels when you shop.

It is important that you don't rush ahead and do what your materials say in terms of what you can eat/drink when and how much.  If you get in a hurry you will run into road blocks and get slowed down.  Be patient and the weight will slowly go away.  I have lost 30 pounds since I started this process and 16 pounds since having my surgery January 4.  Good luck!

I've tried EVERY shake under the sun, literally, and I'm very picky. LOL  2 years ago, I found the best shakes around (to me).  BSN Lean Desserts Protein...they taste like pudding and are true-to-flavor, never chalky.  My faves are Chocolate Fudge, Whipped Vanilla Creme and Banana Cream Pudding.  Also, I add several varieties of Da Vinci Sugar Free Flavored Syrups to them - they have like 30 flavors and I have 13 of them.  For instance, you can mix Whipped Vanilla Creme protein mix with strawberry, pumpkin pie, caramel, or white chocolate raspberry syrup to make many, many flavors.  I buy everything at netrition.com.  They have $4.95 flat shipping which is sweet!  Happy shopping and welcome to the OH family!

Hey Lisa - ever the wealth of good information!  I'm going to give these shakes a try - I LOVE s/f jello pudding so if it is anywhere near that, sounds good to me! :)  Thanks for sharing this information!

Glad I can help!!! :)

First of all, we all get scared. Just keep asking for help and you will be fine. Your nutritionist will help you will what food goes in what category. As for the protein, my nutritionist had a session for a bunch of us where she set up a "bar" of protein shakes and let us try them all, so we didn't have to go out and spend a bunch of cash on stuff we were gonna hate. So ask of your office has a program like that. I personally fell in love with Unjury unflavored protein powder, you get it on the internet and since it is unflavored you can mix it in milk, crystal lite, or whatever. FYI-On the site you can order a sample pack too.
Hang in there, it will all come together!
Sherie

Deep breath! Lots of help for you on here. Just pick and choose from the ideas we share - some will suit you, some won''t.

You do have to learn a bit about nutrition. I am not a counter of anything, calories, carbs or proteins. But you do have to know what foods are high in calories and what will give you enough protein. I ignore carbs - no idea how to count them! But I do know what they are because I do take a general note of calories and carbs are high calorie in most cases.

In very simple terms, cut right back on anything with flour and sugar,  don't overeat starchy things (potaotes and bananas), avoid too much fat.

For protein, have some (meat, fish, nuts, lentils, soya etc)  with every meal.

It was my personal choice (supported by my nut) not to have protein shakes in the post-op phase. I made my own high protein soups instead. So others will be better able to advise you on that.

Kate

Don't overwhelm yourself also the protein I liked before surgery I can't tolerate. I researched and read went to a nutrition class and one month out feel totally clueless. I havr really relied on these boards. Don't cry and take a breah it will be ok.